Sustainability

Our sustainable approach

At Elthorne, our sustainability approach focuses on reducing our school’s environmental impact through education, action, and community involvement. We are committed to promoting whole-school, eco-friendly practices such as recycling, energy conservation, waste reduction and improving our green spaces. We are working hard to integrate sustainability into the curriculum to raise awareness and empower students to become responsible global citizens. Additionally, we partner with local and national organisations to support green initiatives and continuously evaluate our practices to ensure long-term environmental responsibility.

Our school is proud to have recently achieved the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation with Distinction, recognizing our commitment to sustainability and environmental education. Designed entirely by students, our Eco logo reflects their integral role in shaping our school’s sustainability values and inspiring positive environmental action.

In line with government requirements, we are currently developing a Climate Action Plan with the help of Let’s Go Zero climate advisors which, along with the Eco students own five-year plan, will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive, school-wide sustainability policy.

Eco Teams - Get involved

Eco Club meets weekly to share ideas, create display materials, and look after the green spaces around school. Their work is hands-on and is perfect for students wanting to get involved in gardening, planting, looking after worms, fundraising or becoming a recycling or eco champion.

Eco Committee leads the school’s sustainability efforts through student-led strategic planning, ensuring student voices are heard on environmental issues, engaging with senior leadership and student council, and driving long-term eco goals, fundraising and initiatives. It is an opportunity to discuss current and ongoing projects, plan events like Green Week, the Summer Festival and the recent inaugural West London Sustainability Summit. It meets weekly before school.

Within the beauty of Elthorne Park Heights, our students can discover the wonders of nature. Our Forest School meets weekly and provides students with the freedom to explore and to take charge of their own learning. The nature-based, woodland environment offers emotional and educational benefits, giving relief to over-stimulated minds and reducing stress. It promotes resilient, confident and creative learners. Mindfulness, care of the natural world and wellbeing are the heart of what we do. Forest School students also care for the forest and sensory garden at the front of school.

Education & Awareness

Waste and Recycling

Eco students are actively working to educate the whole school community on reducing waste and recycling more efficiently, having already introduced mixed recycling across the school and food waste bins in the Food Technology room and communal areas. They have also successfully partnered with various external recycling providers to recycle batteries, crisp packets and trainers/running shoes.

This year’s goals are to collaborate with the catering and site teams to implement school-wide food waste disposal in line with government regulations for educational settings and to further streamline mixed recycling in all classrooms.

We also aspire to become a zero single-use plastic school and actively campaign to introduce sustainable alternatives. Eco students have recently proposed that all students bring a reusable water bottle as part of their standard equipment from 2025, alongside the installation of additional sanitary, functional water fountains throughout the school to ensure wider, easier access to drinking water for all students.

Eco students are keen to launch a switch-off campaign this coming year in order to reduce our school’s energy consumption and encourage energy-saving behaviour at school and at home! We are currently looking into the Energy Sparks programme and the Switch-off fortnight 2025 campaign in November.

Green Spaces

Our school is proud to be the first secondary school to partner with Trees for Cities, working together to improve our green spaces and educate students on the physical and mental benefits of nature. Through their Trees for Schools programme, students have been actively involved in consultations to design and enhance key areas around the school, with a focus on rewilding, planting, and long-term maintenance. As part of the project, students have participated in tree planting both on school grounds and in the adjacent Elthorne Park extension to deepen their understanding of urban greening, biodiversity, and environmental responsibility.

This year, students are keen to move forward with a ‘green wall’ to further enhance their school environment. As part of the TfL Pioneers programme, students in Year 10 researched the feasibility and benefits of an eco wall and plan to fundraise and seek approval this coming year.

Current Projects and Partnerships